CITY OF SALEM, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, GREEN ENERGY
April 21, 2026
3–4 minutes
SAFE participated in and supported the El Punto Climate Showcase on May 30th! The event celebrated the work on a two year, City funded project: Resilient the Point. The showcase gathered locals of El Punto to learn about ongoing climate and public health work in the neighborhood. Residents enjoyed food, activities, and engaging conversations. The event provided resource and learning tables and activities. There were numerous presentations on rats and trash, high heat, water quality, displacement, and environmental curriculum for 8th graders. The event was predominantly in Spanish and accompanied by simultaneous interpretation. SAFE’s tabling was focused on summer high heat work, and SAFE engaged with many local attendees.
At the end of the event, Salem community members received a proclamation from the City of Salem for their contribution to the Resilient Together Project.
Dr Neenah Estrella-Luna, pictured with a custom cat portrait designed by a local artist, led the Participatory Action Research work conducted in the neighborhood.
Many thanks to all the attendees and to the Undersecretary of Environmental Justice and Equity, María Belén Power for her thoughtful remarks about the Resilient Together Project and the importance of Climate Justice work. We are grateful to the efforts of Dr. Neenah Estrella-Luna and her team at StarLuna consulting, for the Participatory Action Research done in collaboration with residents, which put residents in the position of driving change.
María Belén Power presents in Spanish to community members
Mayor Pangallo visits the SAFE table
A huge thank you to the North Shore Community Development Coalition for hosting, and to all of the partners who supported this event. Inclusive and accessible community conversations like this event are critical to developing social resilience and creating the conditions for resident engagement.